ADS BibCode:2005Msngr.122....6DSection:Telescopes and InstrumentationAuthor(s)/Affiliation(s):D'Odorico, S.AA(ESO)Abstract:During the past year ESO has coordinated a number of instrument concept studies as a complement to the OWL Observatory Design Study. Eight teams of scientists and engineers from different institutes in Europe and ESO have identified a variety of science programmes at the frontier of astrophysics and developed concepts of instruments at OWL which would be able to carry them out. This exercise has provided a first view of the unique astronomical observations at Blue to IR wavelengths which will become possible with a future European Extremely Large Telescope.References:The OWL Instrument Concept Studies have beenpublished as ESO internal reports. They can be obtainedfrom the PI’s or ESO.(1) D’Odorico S., Moorwood A. F .M., Beckers, J.1991, Journal of Optics 22, 85(2) CODEX, Cosmic Dynamics Experiment,OWL–CSR-ESO-00000-0160, October 2005(3) T-OWL, Thermal Infrared Imager and Spectrographfor OWL, OWL–CSR-ESO-00000-0161, October2005(4) QuantEYE, OWL–CSR-ESO-00000-0162, October2005(5) SCOWL, Submillimeter Camera for OWL;OWL–CSR-ESO-00000-0163, September 2005(6) MOMFIS, Multi Object Multi Field IR Spectrograph,OWL–CSR-ESO-00000-0164, September 2005(7) ONIRICA, OWL NIR Imaging Camera,OWL–CSR-ESO-00000-0165, October 2005(8) EPICS, Earth-like Planet Imaging Camera andSpectrograph, OWL–CSR-ESO-00000-0166,October 2005(9) HyTNIC, Hyper-Telescope Near Infrared Camera,OWL–CSR-ESO-00000-0167, October 2005

ADS BibCode:2005Msngr.122....9ASection:Telescopes and InstrumentationAuthor(s)/Affiliation(s):Almudena Prieto, M.; Maciejewski, W.; Reunanen, J.AA(Max-Planck Institute für Astronomie, Heidelberg, Germany) AB(University of Oxford, UK) AC(ESO)Abstract:Near-infrared images of the active galaxy NGC 1097 have been obtained by a team of astronomers1 using NACO on the VLT. Located at a distance of about 45 million light years in the southern constellation Fornax, NGC 1097 is a relatively bright, barred spiral galaxy seen face-on. It is a very moderate example of an Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN), whose emission is thought to arise from matter (gas and stars) falling into a central black hole. NGC 1097 possesses a comparatively faint nucleus only, indicating that the infall rate is small.

ADS BibCode:2005Msngr.122...14.Section:Telescopes and InstrumentationAuthor(s)/Affiliation(s):ESOAA(ESO)Abstract:An international team of astronomers1 has for the first time observed the visible light from a short gamma-ray burst (GRB). Using the 1.5-m Danish telescope at La Silla (Chile), they showed that these short, intense bursts of gamma-ray emission most likely originate from the violent collision of two merging neutron stars. The same team has also used the VLT to constrain the birthplace of the first ever short burst whose position could be pinpointed with high precision. The results were published in the October 6 issue of the journal Nature.

ADS BibCode:2005Msngr.122...15WSection:Telescopes and InstrumentationAuthor(s)/Affiliation(s):Wilson, T.AA(ESO)Abstract:An independent international Cost Review of the ALMA project was held in Garmisch- Partenkirchen on October 13–16. The general response of the Cost Review Committee was positive. The three ALMA Project Managers (Tony Beasley, Joint ALMA Office; Adrian Russell, North America; Hans Rykaczewski, Europe) wrote that “The response from the committee is pretty much as good as it could be ...” Massimo Tarenghi, the ALMA Director, added “This excellent outcome reflects the very hard work of many people in the ALMA project, and the conscientious way in which the review was carried out.” More details of the review will follow when the final report becomes available.

ADS BibCode:2005Msngr.122...17.Section:Telescopes and InstrumentationAuthor(s)/Affiliation(s):ESOAA(ESO)Abstract:On December 6, ESO signed a contract with the consortium led by Alcatel Alenia Space and composed also of European Industrial Engineering (Italy) and MT Aerospace (Germany), to supply 25 antennas for the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) project, along with an option for another seven antennas. The contract, worth 147 million euros, covers the design, manufacture, transport and on-site integration of the antennas. It is the largest contract ever signed in ground-based astronomy in Europe.

ADS BibCode:2005Msngr.122...18ASection:Telescopes and InstrumentationAuthor(s)/Affiliation(s):Argandona, G.; Mirabel, F.AA(ESO) AB(ESO)Abstract:The serene Andean village of San Pedro de Atacama, in northern Chile, was the epicentre of the two-day official inauguration of APEX, the 12-metre telescope working at the Llano of Chajnantor.

Other Astronomical News

ADS BibCode:2005Msngr.122...42LSection:Other Astronomical NewsAuthor(s)/Affiliation(s):Lagrange, A.-M.AA(ASTRONET Coordinator (CNRS/INSU, France))Abstract:Establishing a comprehensive long-term plan for the development of European astronomy – optical and radio, ground and space – has been discussed for many years, but still waits to be done. Also, European astronomy would benefit much from better-coordinated actions among countries. A consortium of European funding agencies is now launching ASTRONET, a four-year ERANET initiative to achieve these goals.

ADS BibCode:2005Msngr.122...44FSection:Other Astronomical NewsAuthor(s)/Affiliation(s):Fosbury, R. A. E.AA(ST-ECF)Abstract:After 15 years in orbit, the Hubble Space Telescope is facing an uncertain future although there is a real possibility of a fifth servicing mission within the next two to three years. ESA and ESO have jointly been pondering the future of the ST-ECF at the ESO headquarters in Garching and this article outlines their conclusions.References:Sansonetti, C. J., Kerber, F., Reader, J., and Rosa,M. R., “Characterization of the Far-ultravioletSpectrum of Pt /Cr-Ne Hollow Cathode Lamps asUsed on the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrographon Board the Hubble Space Telescope”,2004, Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series153, 555–579

ADS BibCode:2005Msngr.122...46BSection:Other Astronomical NewsAuthor(s)/Affiliation(s):Boffin, H.AA(ESO)Abstract:On October 22, ESO in Garching opened its doors to the public, as part of the traditional all-campus Open House. The event was successful again this year, clearly generating a lot of public interest, with 2000–2500 visitors passing through our building within a seven-hour period. For ESO, the Open House is an important element of our continued dialogue with the local community, playing a key role in maintaining awareness about astronomy in general and about our organisation in particular.

ADS BibCode:2005Msngr.122...47PSection:Other Astronomical NewsAuthor(s)/Affiliation(s):Pierce-Price, D.; Boffin, H.; Madsen, C.AA(ESO) AB(ESO) AC(ESO)Abstract:“Science on Stage”, the European Science Teaching Festival, is a major educational outreach programme for science teachers. It aims to identify and foster innovation within formal science education by means of exchange of best practice, workshops and seminars involving educators from all over Europe.

ADS BibCode:2005Msngr.122...48MSection:Other Astronomical NewsAuthor(s)/Affiliation(s):Madsen, C.AA(ESO)Abstract:On November 14–15, the Brussels Exhibition Centre (Heysel) was the home of a major international conference on science communication with the title “Communicating European Research” (CER 2005).

ADS BibCode:2005Msngr.122...49WSection:Other Astronomical NewsAuthor(s)/Affiliation(s):Walsh, J.; Kissler-Patig, M.AA(ST-ECF) AB(ESO)Abstract:About four years ago when discussions were taking place to plan the proposal to the European Commission for a Research Training Network (RTN) on 3D spectroscopy, we decided to make an international conference one of the closing highpoints of the network. At that time there were only a few 3D instruments routinely taking data on large telescopes (such as Integral on the WHT and Oasis on the CFHT) and some of us thought that a full-scale international conference on science with 3D spectroscopy might be rather difficult to fill. However, as it transpired, we had problems containing the conference in four and a half days. The RTN, called Euro3D, shared the hosting of the conference with ESO and it was held at ESO Headquarters in Garching from October 10–14, 2005.

ADS BibCode:2005Msngr.122...52.Section:Other Astronomical NewsAuthor(s)/Affiliation(s):ESOAA(ESO)Abstract:The scientific legacy of Alvio Renzini was celebrated with a one-day workshop in Garching on October 19. Alvio retired as the VLT Programme Scientist in June this year and this conference was a way to look back at his many scientific achievements and his influence on ESO and the VLT project.

Announcements

ADS BibCode:2005Msngr.122R..54.Section:AnnouncementsAuthor(s)/Affiliation(s):ESOAA(ESO)Abstract:The purpose of these summer schools is to provide the opportunity for young researchers to gain practical experience in observational techniques, data reduction and analysis and the use of virtual observatory tools. Students will carry out small research projects, centred on selected astrophysical topics, in small groups under the supervision of experienced astronomers. These practical exercises will be complemented by lectures on general observational techniques and archival research for both ground and space based astronomy.

ADS BibCode:2005Msngr.122Q..54.Section:AnnouncementsAuthor(s)/Affiliation(s):ESOAA(ESO)Abstract:The Universidad de Concepción, the Centro de Astrofísica FONDAP (Chile), the Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory and ESO are organising a conference on “Globular Clusters – Guides to Galaxies”, which will take place on March 6–10, 2006.